2022 Âmevive Wine Albariño, Santa Barbara County, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

This wine comes entirely from Martian Ranch Vineyard in Alisos Canyon AVA. Martian Ranch has been farmed biodynamically since its inception and has been Demeter certified since 2010. Alisos Canyon AVA lies directly in the middle of Santa Ynez Valley AVA and Santa Maria AVA and has a unique set of both AVA’s characteristics. This vineyard lies on the hills of the San Antonio Creek Valley, it gets warm in the day, and cools off with coastal fog in the evening. The soils are rich in calcium from the Paso and Sisquoc formations and are composed of weathered sandstone, shale, and marly limestone.

The grapes were harvested in the early morning around 21B. Yields were less than half of what was expected out of the vineyard, but we were grateful to harvest our small allocation of 1.7 tons. In the cellar, the Albariño grapes were crushed and rested on skins for most of the workday. After about 8 hours, everything was pressed to tank to settle overnight. This Albariño is fermented partially in stainless and partially in neutral French oak barrels. It spent elevage on its fermentation lees for 6 months and came together about a month before being bottled unfined and unfiltered in March of 2023.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Winemaker, Alice Anderson, spent two years working in the Northern Rhône where the seamless connection between farming and winemaking became her ethos. After returning to Santa Barbara County, Alice worked for and was influenced by some of the region’s brightest winemaking lights. She’s taken those experiences and influences to her brand called mevive Wine.

mevive is a small winery and vineyard based in Santa Barbara County. Alice Anderson and her partner farm a historic 10-acre vineyard in Los Olivos District AVA, home to Syrah, Mourvedre, and Marsanne planted in 1971. They farm with the environment in mind using biodynamic and regenerative organic practices. They actively rotate chickens, sheep, and ducks throughout the vineyard, and are completing their 3rd year of no till. They add nothing but occasionally minimal sulfur to the wines and they are always unfined, unfiltered, and made with intention. Alice likes to say that she "makes natural wines for the classic palette." She is extremely passionate about the natural world, keeping the wild wild, and making tasty wines that are good for both the planet and our bodies!